Overview: Wide-Open Spaces and the Power to Gobble Them Up
The Cadillac Escalade is a luxury full-size SUV. Both the regular Escalade and long-wheelbase ESV have three rows of seats, but occupants in the third row enjoy an extra 1.7 inches of legroom in the ESV, which also boasts 16 more cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row. Both Escalades are available in a V-Series trim with an outrageous 682-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine under the hood.
Trim Levels: Base, Luxury, Sport, Platinum Luxury, Platinum Sport and V-Series Compared
- Base: Sets a high bar with loads of luxury and tech gear, but notably doesn’t include genuine leather upholstery
- Luxury: Adds a panoramic moonroof, power-deployable running boards and leather, as well as more options
- Sport: Has a different grille and black exterior accents, but is otherwise identical to the Luxury
- Platinum Luxury: Features most of the Luxury trim’s options as standard equipment, but adds upgraded interior trim and massaging front seats
- Platinum Sport: Identical to the Platinum Luxury but with black trim
- V-Series: Everything from the Platinum trims, plus the 682-hp, supercharged V-8, a sport-tuned suspension and upgraded brakes
What’s New for 2026: New Trim Level Names, Same Content
- Trim levels are renamed, but content remains the same.
Performance: Abundance of Horsepower, With More Optional
The Escalade’s standard engine, a 6.2-liter V-8, puts out a stout 420 hp and 460 pounds-feet of torque. Shell out for the supercharged V-Series and you’ll get 682 hp and 653 pounds-feet from its V-8. All-wheel drive is standard on the V, but powering all four wheels costs an additional $3,000 on the rest of the lineup. A 10-speed automatic is the only transmission available.
Technology and Safety: Standard 55-Inch Digital Dash and Super Cruise
As Cadillac’s flagship SUV, the Escalade features a comprehensive suite of standard tech, luxury and safety equipment. Drivers are greeted by a dash-spanning 55-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and front-passenger display, and the Escalade also boasts a 21-speaker AKG audio system and Cadillac’s hands-free Super Cruise highway driving tech. If you want more, the options list includes a 38-speaker AKG sound system, head-up display, augmented reality night vision and second-row entertainment screens.
Is the 2026 Cadillac Escalade a Good Luxury SUV?
The Escalade is a decidedly American take on luxury, growing ever more brash and bold with each redesign. Even its standard 6.2-liter V-8 idles with a powerboat rumble, and the supercharged version in the Escalade-V makes this Cadillac shockingly quick for something that weighs 3 tons. But while the Escalade’s dash-spanning infotainment display is impressive, other interior materials and surfaces lag the competition in terms of quality.
